Alberta Teachers’ Strike Enters Second Week — Parent Payment Portal Now Open

As the Alberta teachers’ strike has entered its second week, classrooms across the province — including those in the Lakeland — remain closed. Families continue to juggle childcare, work, and home learning as talks between the province and the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) remain stalled.

Support for Parents Now Available

To help offset the added costs of keeping children at home, the province has launched a Parent Payment Program, now open through the Parent Payment Portal at parentpayment.alberta.ca.

Premier Danielle Smith announced that the program will provide $30 per day, per student aged 12 and under for the duration of the strike. The payment is meant to help parents cover extra childcare, tutoring, or learning activity costs.

“Families are facing real financial pressures as this labour dispute continues,” Smith said earlier this week. “This support ensures parents have help covering the costs that come with their children being out of school.”

Applications opened October 14, and payments will be made by e-transfer on the last day of each month, retroactive to the start of the strike on October 6. The first payment is expected on October 31.

Extra Help for Families of Children with Disabilities

Families with children who have an active Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD) agreement can receive additional funding:

• Children 12 and under: An extra $30 per child per school day, for a total of $300 per week

• Children aged 13–17: $60 per child per school day, also $300 per week

No separate application is required for FSCD families, though parents must provide their FSCD File ID number during registration.

All payments are non-taxable, will not affect existing benefits, and only one parent or guardian per child is eligible.

The government says these supports are not new spending but rather redirected funds from teacher salaries that will not be paid during the strike.

Ongoing Uncertainty for Lakeland Parents

In communities like Bonnyville, Cold Lake, and St. Paul, where licensed childcare options are already limited, many parents say the payments are appreciated but don’t solve the larger problem.

Parents are still scrambling to find care, internet reliability continues to hamper online learning, and extracurricular supports remain paused. Some local businesses have reported parents adjusting shifts or taking unpaid leave to stay home with children.

No New Talks Scheduled

The ATA maintains that the strike is about more than pay. President Jason Schilling has reiterated that the government’s current proposal doesn’t address overcrowded classrooms or a lack of classroom supports.

“Teachers are speaking with one voice,” Schilling said. “We cannot continue with classrooms this crowded and supports this thin.”

As of October 15, no new bargaining sessions have been announced.

For Lakeland families, the uncertainty continues — with no clear timeline yet for when teachers and students will return to class.